Residents hit out over open spaces
Grass areas not being cut plus dog bins overflowing
Cambusnethan residents have accused the council of bringing their area down by neglecting to maintain overgrown communal spaces.
Householders in Lockhart Place, Branchalfield Drive and surrounding streets say they’ve made a number of complaints to council staff about unkempt grassed areas which haven’t been mowed for six weeks.
The residents say a Northline worker blamed cutbacks for the lack of ground maintenance, while another explained the local authority’s ground maintenance teams have recently been deployed at gala day celebration sites rather than in residential areas.
“I really and truly do not know what the council tax pays for now,” hit out Pat McMaster.
“The whole scheme is just a mess. What are we paying council tax for? I heard the council has been dishing out substantial pay rises and we are left with this so they can pay for the rises. They put the council tax up and we get less for it.”
Lockhart Place resident Iris Adams says she has to keep her windows closed during the current heatwave to prevent seeds and pollen from the overgrown grass from blowing into her home.
And the area’s dog owners, who complain that dog mess bins are unemptied and overflowing, say it’s difficult to pick up after their pets because the grass is so overgrown.
Some residents have made attempts to tidy up the communcal areas themselves.
“When you look at the ages of the residents, they have a big enough job trying to keep their own bit tidy without being expected to do the council’s work too,” said Pat.
Neighbour Margaret Hendry made a number of approaches to Councillor Robert McKendrick, who toured the whole estate and took pictures of the offending communal areas.
“We are still paying council tax for frontline services, so clearly we should be getting a reduction in council tax if they are not getting out to cut the grass.
“The area is getting neglected,” said Margaret.
And Iris added: “People take pride in their homes and this pulls the whole area down.”
A council spokesperson said: “In the council budget for 2018/19, it was agreed that grass cutting would be reduced from 18 cuts per year to 14, which averages at around every two weeks during the season.”